Explore the Family Name Galpin
The meaning of Galpin
1. English (Dorset, of Norman origin): nickname from Old French galopin, galpin, apparently a diminutive of the Old French noun galop or the base of the verb galoper, and therefore denoting ‘one who gallops’. It may have been used of a gentleman who habitually rode his horse at a gallop or of a professional rider or messenger. The noun galopin is recorded only in Modern French, with the sense ‘errand boy’, and in modern English (late 16th century) with the unexpected sense ‘kitchen boy, turnspit’ but perhaps also ‘errand boy, page boy’. However, medieval bearers of the English surname were men of property, indicating that galopin was originally used of men with a considerably higher status than an errand boy. 2. French: variant of Galopin or Galpin, with the same sense as 1 above.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Galpin in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the surname Galpin saw a decrease in its popularity from 2000 to 2010. In 2000, Galpin was ranked the 27,439th most popular surname and by 2010, it fell to the 29,334th spot, indicating a change of -6.91%. The count of people with this surname also dropped from 827 in 2000 to 806 in 2010, marking a reduction of -2.54%. Consequently, the proportion of people named Galpin per 100k decreased by -12.9% over this decade.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #27,439 | #29,334 | -6.91% |
| Count | 827 | 806 | -2.54% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.31 | 0.27 | -12.9% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Galpin
The ethnic identity associated with the surname Galpin has also shown some changes based on the Decennial U.S. Census data. In 2000, the majority of Galpin's were White at 96.01%, which slightly decreased to 94.17% in 2010. During the same period, there was a notable increase in the percentage of Hispanic individuals with this surname, growing from 1.45% to 3.47%. Additionally, those identified as belonging to two or more races increased from 1.21% to 1.61%. However, no change was observed among Asian/Pacific Islander, Black, and American Indian and Alaskan Native categories.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 96.01% | 94.17% | -1.92% |
| Hispanic | 1.45% | 3.47% | 139.31% |
| Two or More Races | 1.21% | 1.61% | 33.06% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Black | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |